Five Things Everyone Should Know About the Testing Fixation in US Schools

It's time to make sure that teaching and learning—not testing—drive classroom instruction so that we can give all children the rich, meaningful public education they deserve. Join the AFT Campaign to End Our Testing Fixation.

1: The world's top-performing school systems approach learning and testing completely differently than we do.

2: American students are taking more tests and learning fewer subjects in school.

Public school educators, parents and students report that as low-quality standardized tests have taken on more importance, the amount of testing in school has increased while nontested subjects like social studies, art, music and hands-on science instruction have been reduced or squeezed out of the curriculum entirely. Because many of these subjects help students develop critical thinking, creativity and other vital 21st-century skills, forcing some students to forgo these experiences in exchange for testing and test preparation puts them at an unfair disadvantage.

3: Recess and physical education are being cut to make time for test-focused academics—even though many experts agree these are essential for kids' health and learning.

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